DL VS WDW Value for money

[pigby]

Just discovering the cost differences between the 2 - planning a DL vacation this year having planned many previous vacations in WDW - both for the summer and both for the same duration (14 nights).

Flights - DL is slightly more as it is further from the UK and we have to change flights but not a whole lot of difference in price (still very expensive either way)

Accommodation - stayed mostly on-site at WDW - all different levels (moderate, value, home from home and deluxe) - we have rented DVC points and had various discounts and mostly got a great deal using AP rates or something. This year we are staying at HoJo's on AP rate (standard 20% off) - it's not a bad price but if special rates come out, then I think it will be a bargain and probably cheaper than any of our WDW on-site stays. Agreed it's not on-site at DL but I don't see as many benefits of staying onsite at DL.

Food - this one is swings and roundabouts - love the WDW dining plan - have got it free (and would have been able to get it free this year had we gone to WDW) and paid for it. It's a great deal but can't see how the same would work at DL with it's far fewer restaurants. However we plan to eat more off-site meals at DL which is something we wouldn't have done very much at WDW so we will save some money that way.

Transportation costs - as at WDW we won't be hiring at car and no free Magical Express for us at DL. Due to there being only 2 parks we are planning some really fun bus tours (beaches, Universal, Hollywood etc) but we know they are going to cost us and we're prepared for that. If we were just staying at WDW, we wouldn't have moved from Disney property so transportation costs would be virtually nil - except for the odd taxi back to our hotel from a restaurant.

 

[HydroGuy]

OKW at WDW is a DVC resort with studios, 1, 2 & 3 BRV's. It is definately not classified as a moderate. WDW has multiple categories for resorts but none of the DVC's are considered moderate.

Moderates at WDW are Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach & Corondo Springs which are all nice resorts.

The cheapest way to stay deluxe at WDW (or WDL) is to rent points from a DVC owner. Check out the DVC rental section on the board for more information.

I was thinking Port Orleans. Have only been past OKW and Port Orleans. Actually one time we walked thru. I may rent points some day.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

For us WDW was a deal last Oct. ~ Free Dining! We stayed value *Pop* I only had to purchase airfare for DD & I ~ DS flew with my mom for free (Delta Skymiles) but the airfare for the 2 of us was still at least $100 more than I spend for the 3 of us to fly to S CA ~ but that's understandable, CA is much closer to UT. We had fun at WDW but I prefer DLR! We'll head East again I'm sure, I'd like to visit WDW late Oct. 2011 and also visit Universal Orlando (Harry Potter) Our visit last Oct. (1-10) was so hot and humid *record breaking* it was awful! Free Dining won't be worth it again to visit when it's hot and humid in FL.

 

[ktlm]

I love both DL and WDW. You can't go wrong with either. However, WDW seems to have more codes and discounts and we found that can make a huge difference between DL and WDW. We fly from within the US, but the flights to Orlando are always quite a bit cheaper than to SNA or LAX. We don't ever rent a car at WDW either, we take their transportation from the minute we hit the airport. We are going to DL this year because DD (4) has never been and she is an Aladdin fan and it would break my heart if she doesn't ever get to see the show before it leaves CA. We went to WDW twice last year on discounts and stayed at the WL and Poly. We are spending 3 nights at DL at the DLH. It is costing us about as much to go to DL for 3 nights as it did to spend a week at WDW on our last 2 trips. If we stayed off property (we looked at the Hojo), it would have been quite a bit cheaper than a deluxe at WDW, but I'm not sure about the WDW values. The good thing about California, is that you can do other things like the beach, San Diego, LA, etc. WDW is so huge that on a week trip, we never leave the property.

 

[Willow25]

Even though we fly in from Australia we still have to fly up to Portland oregon as that is where my family is. Unfortunately it cost only a little more to Orlando to Portland to LA than a round trip from LA to Portland. I guess I kept thinking that we would save money going to DLR as like others have said you don't have to stay as long but it seems to still cost the same amount. Also we are landing in anaheim on the first saturday of the candlelight processional following that DLR will have shorter hours because of CM parties. This has forced us to stay longer at the parks making our stay an entire week. We have decided to rent points at the Grand in a one bedroom which will cost us more than an OKW two bedroom for 12 nights. So for us it will cost us the same amount of money for DLR at seven nights as it did last year at WDW for 12 nights. FRUSTRATING!!!

It makes me think that DLR is a really great destination for locals and people who are close enough to drive or people who can only take a few days off work. But for my family who likes to go for two weeks WDW is definitely a better value for your money.

 

[PinkBudgie]

My problem is first, the airfare cross country to WDW costs more than drivng to Socal. Second, I've never been to WDW so I would want to stay at least 10 days. And, since I don't like taking the ART bus to DLR I know I don't want to stay at a value resort at WDW. Buses for me are to avoided whenever possible. Therefore, I "have" to stay at one of the monorail resorts that costs more. We have never been to WDW because all this makes it much more expensive. I will get there someday though!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Honestly I don't think I would want to spend 10 days....then you would need to do laundry! We have done many trips to WDW, but never stayed more than 6 days....

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Honestly I don't think I would want to spend 10 days....then you would need to do laundry! We have done many trips to WDW, but never stayed more than 6 days....

I do annual trips of 10-14 day at wdw and usually 2, 6-8 day trips as well. Being a dvc member makes this possible. I would say stay in a DVC unit (1brv or larger) and you can do laundry in your villa at your convenience and only need to pack half of what you would typically bring. For a first timer (PinkBudgie) I would recommend at least 10 days at WDW if you want to see the majority of it; longer if you want to visit US, IOA, CW, SW or some of the other major attractions in Orlando.

Therefore, I "have" to stay at one of the monorail resorts that costs more.

You could rent DVC points and stay at the DVC Villas as the CT if you "have to be at a monorail resort". I am not a fan of the buses either, but typically I rent a vehicle as it is so much more convenenient to come and go as you please. This adds additional costs but you could rent a vehicle and stay at a moderate resort (or rent dvc points) and it would be cheaper then a monorail resort paying cash. They often have great deals for packages at WDW but rarely are they at the monorail resorts.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I do annual trips of 10-14 day at wdw and usually 2, 6-8 day trips as well. Being a dvc member makes this possible. I would say stay in a DVC unit (1brv or larger) and you can do laundry in your villa at your convenience and only need to pack half of what you would typically bring. For a first timer (PinkBudgie) I would recommend at least 10 days at WDW if you want to see the majority of it; longer if you want to visit US, IOA, CW, SW or some of the other major attractions in Orlando.


You could rent DVC points and stay at the DVC Villas as the CT if you "have to be at a monorail resort". I am not a fan of the buses either, but typically I rent a vehicle as it is so much more convenenient to come and go as you please. This adds additional costs but you could rent a vehicle and stay at a moderate resort (or rent dvc points) and it would be cheaper then a monorail resort paying cash. They often have great deals for packages at WDW but rarely are they at the monorail resorts.

Thank you. Something to think about. Although parking costs for everyday would also have to be added in, however much that is. Still could be cheaper.

 

[HydroGuy]

My problem is first, the airfare cross country to WDW costs more than drivng to Socal. Second, I've never been to WDW so I would want to stay at least 10 days. And, since I don't like taking the ART bus to DLR I know I don't want to stay at a value resort at WDW. Buses for me are to avoided whenever possible. Therefore, I "have" to stay at one of the monorail resorts that costs more. We have never been to WDW because all this makes it much more expensive. I will get there someday though!

The transportation at WDW can be frustrating at times. Both of our visits we used the Disney transportation system and overall found it to be effective. To use it well you really have to adjust your thinking.

Here are some random thoughts...

o The AKL Deluxe resort is expensive but (when we stayed there) has the advantage of being on its own bus loop. That means you spend very little time making stops at other resorts to get places

o As long as you are going somewhere directly (say from AKL to one of the parks) it takes about the same time as using a car according to WDW UG studies. It is when you want to go somewhere indirectly (say AKL to another resort hotel for dinner) that it can take much longer because you have to hop buses or boats. So when we had to go indirect we used a taxi for $15-20 and only used the Disney transportation for direct routes.

o The monorail resorts are only going to be effective for two parks - MK and Epcot. Otherwise you will need a bus, car or whatever.

o The walking distance resorts (around the boardwalk) are only effective for two parks - Epcot and DHS. Otherwise you will need a bus, car or whatever.

o Overall I personally will stick with the Disney transportation and save the money from a rental car and parking and use it otherwise (like for taxis here and there).

 

[LavenderPeach]

The transportation at WDW can be frustrating at times. Both of our visits we used the Disney transportation system and overall found it to be effective. To use it well you really have to adjust your thinking.

Here are some random thoughts...

o The AKL Deluxe resort is expensive but (when we stayed there) has the advantage of being on its own bus loop. That means you spend very little time making stops at other resorts to get places

o As long as you are going somewhere directly (say from AKL to one of the parks) it takes about the same time as using a car according to WDW UG studies. It is when you want to go somewhere indirectly (say AKL to another resort hotel for dinner) that it can take much longer because you have to hop buses or boats. So when we had to go indirect we used a taxi for $15-20 and only used the Disney transportation for direct routes.

o The monorail resorts are only going to be effective for two parks - MK and Epcot. Otherwise you will need a bus, car or whatever.

o The walking distance resorts (around the boardwalk) are only effective for two parks - Epcot and DHS. Otherwise you will need a bus, car or whatever.

o Overall I personally will stick with the Disney transportation and save the money from a rental car and parking and use it otherwise (like for taxis here and there).

We also thought the transportation at WDW was fine. We've only been to WDW once but I would use their transportation again if we ever get a chance to go back there. There was one time that we had trouble getting a bus empty enough for anyone to get on but they eventually brought a new bus out for us. Besides that we had no trouble. We were only taking direct routes though so I'm sure that must have helped.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

WDW transportation was fine @ POP they don't share buses with any other resorts so we got on the bus and went to the park, when we left the park we went straight back to POP. Easy.